title: Mastocytosis and atopy: a study of 33 patients with urticaria pigmentosa.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with histologically verified urticaria pigmentosa were studied for coexisting atopic disease by means of history, skin prick testing with five common inhalants and serological investigation for total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to five common inhalants. The prevalence of atopy in urticaria pigmentosa was similar to that observed in the normal Swiss population, both on the basis of history (7/33 = 21%) and of positive skin prick tests to common inhalants (12/33 = 36%). However, total serum IgE levels were significantly lower (geometric mean value 16.8 kU/l) than in a control group of 52 Swiss blood donors of comparable age and sex distribution (geometric mean value 43.0 kU/l, t = 2.93, P less than 0.005). Specific IgE antibodies to common inhalants were also observed less frequently in urticaria pigmentosa patients than in controls, although this difference was not statistically significant. Low total and specific IgE values in patients with urticaria pigmentosa may be explained by increased absorption of circulating IgE to abundant tissue mast cells.
authors.affiliation: Medical Division, Zieglerspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helbling
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wüthrich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pécoud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilardi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fasel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Messerli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D014688:Venoms / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D014688:Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E